Slicing machine



Dec. 31, 1929. J. c. STEINER SLICI NG MACHINE Filed Aug. 13, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet m m a M A TTO/PNE v.5

Dec. 31, 1929. J. c. S' I'EINER 1,742,105

SLICING MACHINE Filed Aug. 15, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVE/Y TOR I 6. ins/MFR BY %z 1929- J. c. STEINER SLICING MACHINE Filed Ailg. 15 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 31, 1929. J. c. STEINER SLICING MACHINE Filed Aug. 13, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Dec. 31, 1929. J. c. STE INER SLICING MACHINE Filed Aug. 15, 1926 8 Sheets-$heet 8 R m Vfi A, we

Patented Dec. 31 1 929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH c. STEINER, on ST. LOUIS, MISSOURL-ASSIGNORBY MEsNE ASSIGNMENTS, T

HUSSMANN-LIGONIER COMPANY, OF DnLAwAnE ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF sLIc ING MAcHrNE Application filed August 1a, 1926. Serial No. 128,971.

This invention relates to slicing machines,

and the novel features may be used in a machineliaving a carriage whereby the material to be sliced is presented to a knife. One of the objects of the invention is to produce a slicing machine adapted to positively locatethe material at a point entirely beyond the knife when the slicing operations are completed. With thisobject in view I have disclosed a carriage whereby the material is carried to and from the knife, and an automatic device which stops the carriage in a starting position wherein thematerial'lies beyond the knife. The carriage may be driven by an electric motor with a hand-controlled device to disconnect the carriage from the motor, and the automatic device will determine the stopping position of the carriage, so as tostop the material at a point beyond the knife.

Another object is to provide a convenient means for quickly stopping the carriage upon the completion of any slicing operation, so that the machine can be used to out only one slice or any predetermined number of slices. To illustrate this feature, I will hereafter describe a hand controlled member whereby the carriage is started and thereafter stopped at the will of the operator to provide the desired number of slices. This hand-controlled member. may be locked in an operative position to permit continuous operation of the machine, and it may be released at any stage of a slicing operation withthe result of having that operation completed while preventlng a subsequent slicing operation. In each instance the carriage is stopped in apredetermined starting position with the material out ofengagement with the knife.

Another object is to produce a slicing machine wherein the carriage can be stopped and started while the knife is driven continuously. The knife may be operated by an electric motor controlled by a switch, and the carriagemay have a separate controlling devlce whereby it is connected to and disconnected from the motor without stopping the knife.

A further object is to provide a simple and elfective means for varyingthe thickness of the slices. r

' Other objects areto produce an improved grlpping device to secure the meat, or other material'to the carriage; to produce an improved guard for a rotary knife; to provide a simple hand-operated means allowingthe operator to adjust the material on the carriage; and to provide for the use of a hand crank to operate the machine when the motor cannot be used. I

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention comprises the novel con struction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it is to be understood that the invention comprehends changes, variations and modifications which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

V Fig. I isa top view of a machine embodying the features of this invention.

Fig. II is a rear elevation of the machine.

Fig. III is a side elevation with a portion of the motor housing broken away to show a hand-power device.

Fig. IV is a horizontal section taken approximately on the line IVIV in Fig. III.

Fig. V is a horizontal section through the base of the machine.

Fig. VI is a section taken approximately on the line VIVI in Fig. I.

Fig. VIIis an enlarged section taken approximately on the line VII-VII in Fig. V.

Fig. VIII is an enlarged section on the line VIII-VIII inFig. I.

Fig. IX is avertical section, partly in elevation, showing the motor housing and the operating mechanism therein.

Fig. X is a front elevation of a holding device adapted to secure the material to the carriage.

Fig. XI is a top view of the device shown in Fig. X.

Fig. XII is an enlarged section on the line XII in Fig. X.

Fig. XIII is a detail view showing a gripping device adapted to engage the top of the material on the carriage.

Fig. XIV is an enlarged section showing portions of the clutch and stopping device which control the transmission of power to the carriage.

Fig. XV is a vertical section showing part of the stopping device and clutch-operating mechanism.

Fig. XVI is a view similar to Fig. XV showing the positions of the parts immediately after releasing the stopping device.

Fig. XVII is an enlarged section approximately on the line XVII-XVII in Fig. XIV, showing the ratchet device in the stoping member.

Fig. XVIII is an enlarged section showing some of the elements used to impart a step by step movement to the material on the carriage.

Fig. XIX is a section on the line XIX- XIX in Fig. XVIII.

Fig. XX 1s a section on the line XX-XX in Fig. XVIII. 1

1 designates a motor housing extending upwardly from a base B, as shown in Figs. I,

.II, III and IX. A portion of the electric motor 2 is shown in Fig. IX. 3 designates an electric switch adapted to control the transmission of current to the motor, said switch being connected to the motor in any suitable manner (not shown). The electric motor is employed to operate a knife and it also drives a carriage whereby the material to be sliced is presented to the knife.

4 designates a rotary knife (Figs. I, II, III, IV and IX) havin a circular cutting edge at its periphery. Ihe knife is fixed to a shaft 5 (Fig. IV) rotatably mounted in abearing 6 and provided with a worm gear 7 meshing with a worm screw 8 on a vertical shaft 9. The worm 8 and shaft 9 are shown in Fig. IX. The shaft 10 of the motor 2 is secured to the vertical shaft 9, as shown in Fig. IX. This vertical shaft is mounted in bearings 11, 12 and 13 which appear in Fig. IX.

When the motor is in operation power is transmitted from the motor shaft 10 (Fig. IX) and through the shaft 9 and worm 8 to the worm gear 7 (Fig. IV) on the shaft 5 to which the knife is secured. The knife is therefore rotated whenever the motor is 0perated. V

The knife shaft 5 (Fig. IV) is provided with a reduced end 12 mounted in a bearing and secured by means of nuts 14 and 15 to prevent longitudinal displacement of said shaft.

The base B is provided with stationary horizontal tracks 16 and 17 on which'a carriage C is slidably mounted. The carriage is 'reciprocated on the tracks to carry the meat, or other material to be sliced, across the cutting edge of the rotating knife. Before describing the means for reciprocating the carriage I will refer to a holding device mounted on the carriage to secure the meat, or other material, thereto.

This holding device is shifted step by step relative to the body of the carriage so as to determine the thickness of the slices. It comprises a platform 18 (Figs. I, II, III and VI) having an inclined top face 19 (Fig. III) to receive the material to be sliced, and provided with side flanges 20 (Figs. II and VI) slidably mounted on the side margins of the body of the reciprocating carriage; These margins lie at a right angle to the tracks 16 and 17.

The material to be sliced extends from the front edge of the platform 18 and the extended portion rests upon the front margin of the carriage, said margin being grooved as shown at 21 inFigs. I and III to provide a rough surface whichreceives the projecting portion of the material.

The means for attaching the meat or other material to the platform 18 includes a gripping device provided with pins, as will be presently described, adapted to enter the rear portion of the material, the portion presented to the knife being regarded as the front portion. This gripping device comprises a rectangular sup )orting plate 22, shown in Figs. II, X, I and XII, and T -shaped bars 23 located on the front of said plate and rigidly secured thereto by means of screws 24 which appear in Figs. X and XI. These T-shaped guide bars 23 are arranged vertically to form guides for slidable bars 25, the latter being equipped with oppositely disposed pins 26 having pointed ends adapted to enter the material to be sliced. The slidable bars are T-shaped in cross section (Fig. XII) to conform to the guideways between thebars 23, and the front faces of bars 25 are preferably flush with the front faces of said bars 23. Each slidable bar 25 carries a vertical row of the pins 26, and the pins are bent as shown most clearly in Figs. III and X. The pointed ends of the pins on some of the bars extend upwardly, and these bars are moved upwardly to force said pointed ends into the material, while the pointed ends on the other bars extend downwardly, and the last mentioned bars are forced downwardly to force their pins into the material. The slidable bars 25 are thus provided with oppositely disposed pins and the bars are moved in opposite directions, as will be presently described, to secure the material to the carriage.

The means for operating the slidable bars 8 25 is shown in Figs. II, XI and XII. Each slidable bar 25 is provided with an operating pin 27 extending through a vertical slot 28 inthe supporting plate 22 and projecting into an inclined slot 29 in a horizontal operating bar 30. There are two of the bars 30 arranged as shown in Fig. II and adapted to be moved horizontally in opposite directions. Each operating bar 30 is guided in a horizontal line by means of pins31 (Figs. II and XII) extending fromthe plate 22 and projecting into horizontal slots in the ends of said bar 30. An operatin lever 32is fulcrumed at 33011 the rear of the supporting plate 22, and this operating lever has longitudinal slots at opposite sides of the fulcrum to receive pins 34 (Fig. II) projecting from the horizontal operating bars 30.

- Bearing in mind that the operating bars 30 are guided in horizontal lines, it will now be understood that the operating lever 32 will move said bars 30 in opposite directions and that the motion will be transmit-ted through the operating pins 27 (Figs. II and XII) so as to lift some of the slidable bars 25 and lower the other bars 25. When it is desired to grip the material to be sliced, the bars 25 havingupwardly extending pins 26 are forced upwardly, while the bars 25 which have downwardly extending pins 26 are forced downwardly. When it is desired to release the materiaha reverse movement is imparted to the operating lever 32 so as to withdraw the oppositely disposed pins 26.

After this device has been adjusted to hold the material, the variousmovable elements can be locked by means of a pin 35 (Figs. II and XI) extending from the operating lever 32 and adapted to enter a hole 35 in the supporting plate 22, the lever being made of spring material to automatically force the pin into the hole.

The means for securing this gripping device to the carriage comprises posts 35 (Figs. II and III) extending upwardly from the platform 18 and located at opposite sides of the gripping device, arms 36 extending from one side of the supporting plate 22 and provided with open forked ends (Figs. II and XI) embracing one of said posts, an arm 37 extending from the other side of said plate 22 and having a recess 38 to receive the other post riage it is only necessary to release the latch 35, the recess being formed at an angle to said forked ends, and a latch member 39 adapted to secure the arm 37 to the last-mentioned post. The latch member 39 is pivoted at 40 (Figs. II and X) and it extends across the recess 38 to lock the device to the posts 35. To remove this gripping device from the car- 39and to then swing the device about the axis of the post 35 embraced by the forks 36, thereby releasing the arm 37 from theother post, and then shifting the device torelease the forks 36. I

I will now describea holding device adaptedto engage the top of the material to be sliced. -This device lies below a bar 41 which connects the upper ends of posts 35. It comprises a gripping member 42 (Figs. II, III and XIII) having a toothed lower edge for engagement with the top of the material. The posts 35 extend, through the opposite end portions of the member 42, 'andthese a spring-pressed pin 48 which yieldingly holds the tooth 45 in engagement with the adjacent teeth 43. An operating handle 49 is rigidly secured to the gripping device 42, and the L-shaped lever 46 provides a handle member 46' (Fig. XIII) which lies below and adjacent to the handle 49. These two handle members 46 and 49 form a single hand grip that can be convenientlygrasped to ad. just the gripping device on the vertical posts 35, and when they are released the spring pressed tooth 45will cooperate with the rigid tooth 44 to secure the gripping device.

I will now refer to the means for stepping the platform 18 and its meat-holding devices so as to shift the meat, or other material, relative to the carriage, thereby determining the thickness ofthe slices. This mechanism includes a feed screw 50. (Fig. I) rotatably mounted in bearings 51 and52 which are rigidly united with the body of the reciprocatingcarriage. This screw receives a variable step by step rotary motion, as will be hereafter described. 1 1

The means for transmitting motion from the feed screw50 to the platform .18 on the carriage comprises a nut member 53 (Figs. I and VIII) slidably mounted in one side of the platform 18 and having athreaded outer face engaging one side of the feed screw 50. The bar 54 extends from the nut member 53 to an operating lever 55 (Figs. I and VI) at the opposite side of platform 18. This lever 55 is pivoted at 56 (Figs. I)

to the bar54 and it has extended edges.

57 and 57 at opposite sides of the pivot, said edges serving as fulorums in a manner that will be presently, described. A spring 58 (Fig. I) tends to retain the nut member 53 in engagement with the feed screw 50, said spring being connected to the bar 54.

The lever 55 (Figs. I and VI) can be operated by hand to first release the nut member 53 from the feed screw 50 and to then move the platform 18 toward or away from the front of the carriage, the object of this hand operation being to locate the meat, or other material, in the desired position on the carriage. WVhen the outer end of lever 55 (Fig. I) is moved toward the front of the carriage, the extended edge 57' will move away from the platform 18 while the edge 57 contacts with the platform to serve as a fulcrum, and thisoperation will impart a longitudinal motion to the bar 54 so as to releasethe nut member 53 from the feed screw 50. The lever 55 then serves as a handle to shift the platform 18 and its meat-holdin devices toward the front of the carriage. y reversing the H- tion of the lever the platform 18 can be moved toward the rear of the carriage, and when said lever is released the spring 58 will force the nut member 53 onto the feed screw 50. The meat, or other material, can be thus adjusted by hand without disturbing the means for driving the feed screw 50.

The feed screw 50 is operated intermittently to step the material to be sliced, thereby determining the thickness of the slices. This operating means comprises a ratchet wheel 59 (Figs. I, XVIII and XIX) fixed to one end of a journal 60 which extends from the feed screw 50, as shown most clearly in Fig. XVIII. 61 designates an oscillatory pawl carrier mounted on the journal 60 (Fig. XVIII) and provided with an extension in which a pivot pin 62 is mounted. A pawl 63 is fixed to one end of the pivot pin 62, and a tooth 64 is fixed to the other end, as shown in Fig. XVIII, the pin 62 being free to oscillate in the pawl carrier 61. A disk 65 (Figs. XVIII and XX) is provided with a notch 66 to receive the tooth 64, and this disk 65 is rigidly secured to one end of a hollow shaft 67 surrounding the journal 60 and adapted to oscillate in the bearing 52. A gear wheel 68 is fixed to the other end of the hollow shaft 67, and this gear wheel meshes with a Vertical rack 69 slidably mounted in a Vertical guide 70. All of the parts just described are carried by the body of the reciprocating carriage, and the rack 69 is actuated by mechanism hereafter described to oscillate the pawl carrier 61, thereby transmitting an oscillatory motion to the pawl 63 which drives the ratchet wheel 59 to actuate the feed screw 50.

To vary the transmission of movement from the pawl 63 to the ratchet wheel 59, a cam 71 is interposed between said ratchet wheel and the pawl carrier 61. This cam 71 is shown most clearly in Figs. XVIII, XIX and XX. It has an extended peripheral portion adapted to separate the pawl from the ratchet wheel 59, as shown in Fig. XIX, so that the pawl may be moved idly over this peripheral portion before it contacts with the ratchet wheel. When the pawl carrier moves in the direction indicated by an arrow in Fig. XIX, the pawl travels on the extended peripheral portion of cam 71 until the operating edge of the pawl passes from a shoulder 72 to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel. The oscillatory motion of the pawl carrier is not varied, but the cam 71 can be adjusted to vary the transmission of motion from the pawl 63 to the ratchet wheel 69.

The means for adjusting the cam 71 comprises a ear ring 73 fixed to said cam, as shown in Fig. XVIII, a rack 74 meshing with said gear ring, and an operating gear 7 5 (Figs. I and II) meshing with the rack 74,

said gear 75 bein fixed to a shaft 76 provided with a gra uated operating knob 77. As shown by Fig. I, the shaft 76 is mounted in a bearing 78 carried by the reciprocating carriage on which the meat is supported, and the feed screw 50 is also carried by this carriage.

The operating knob 77 can be adjusted to impart a longitudinal motion to the rack bar 74, thereby shifting the gear ring 73 which is secured to the cam 71, as shown in Fig. XVIII. The cam can be thus adjusted to vary the transmission of motion from the pawl 63 to the ratchet wheel 59, and this will vary the motion of the feed screw 50 which shifts the meat-holding device to determine the thickness of the slices.

The member 79 shown in Figs. XVIII, XIX and XX is a guide for the rack bar 74. After the rack bar 74 has been adjusted, it may be held in any suitable manner to prevent displacement, and as an illustration of this feature I have shown in Fig. XIX a spring 80 having a bent portion adapted to lie between two adjacent teeth of the rack bar.

The pawl carrier 61 is provided with spring-pressed pins 81 (Fig. XVIII) frictionally engaging the inner face of the gear ring 73. These pins 81 tend to retard the motion of the pawl carrier 61.

I will now refer to the manner in which the oscillatory motion is transmitted from the notched disk 65 (Figs. XVIII and XX) to the pawl carrier 61 and its pawl 63. To understand this feature one should bear in mind that the pawl 63 and the tooth 64 are rigidly secured to the pivot pin 62 which is free to oscillate in the pawl carrier. WVhen the notched disk 65 moves in the direction indicated by an arrow in Fig. XX, it tends to move the tooth 64 in a corresponding direction, thereby forcing the end portion of pawl 63 onto the extended portion of the cam 71. Under these conditions the pawl carrier 61 moves with the disk 65 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. XX, and when the pawl passes from the cam 71 the thrust imparted through the tooth 64 forces the pawl onto the periphery of the ratchet wheel 59, a continued motion resulting in operation of the ratchet wheel. During the return stroke, when the disk 65 moves in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow in Fig. XX, the reverse motion is imparted to the tooth 64, and this moves the pawl 63 away from the teeth of ratchet wheel 59.

However, the extent of the last-mentioned motion is limited by the interlocking engagement of the tooth 64 with the disk 65. The tooth is loosely interlocked with the disk, but it can only move a limited distance relative to the disk, this being apparent from the illustration in Fig. XX.

To insure the desired movements of the pawl 63 relative to the pawl carrier 61, which havejust been referred to, the pawl carrier is retarded by the spring-pressed pins 81 shown in'Fig. XVIII. Since said pawl carrier is thus 'yieldingly held by friction, and since it is driven through the medium of the disk 65 and tooth 64 (Fig. XX), it will be understood that theppawl is positively forcedonto the ratchet wheel 59 when the said pawl passes from the cam 65, and that the pawl is posi tively shifted away from the ratchet wheel at the beginning of the return stroke,when it is to moveidly to the position shown in Fig. XX.

I will now describe the means for reciprocating the vertical rackbar 69 to impart an oscillatory motion to the pawl carrier. This rack bar 69 is carried by the main carriage, and it is operated through the medium of devices adjacent to the carriage. Fig. VI shows that the lower end of rack bar 69 is provided with a pin, or extension, 69 adapted to travel in a long slot 82 formed in a lever 83,

the latter being pivotally supported at 84 and provided with a downwardly extending arm 83 which is shown most clearly in Figs. V and VI. This arm 83 is provided with a roller 85 extending into an inclined slot 86 1 formed in a plate 87, and this plate is provided with horizontal slots 88 to receive supportingpins 89 projecting from a stationary plate 90. The plate 87 is to be moved horizontallyin a line parallel with its slots 88, so as to transmit motion to the roller 85 which lies in the inclined slot 86, said roller being secured to the slotted lever 83,so as to move the latter about the axis of its pivot 84. This movement of the lever 83 will result in the reciprocation of the vertical rack 69 to drive the feed screw 50.

The means for reciprocating the plate 87 (Figs. V, VI and VII) comprises a rotary shaft 91, a cam 92 fixed to said shaft, and a sleeve 93 surrounding the cam, said sleeve being provided with a roller 94 which lies in the cam groove 95 in the periphery of said cam. I i

96 designates a connecting bar (Figs. V and VI) pivoted at 97 to the horizontally movable plate 87, and pivoted at 98 to the sleeve 93. This sleeve tends to rotate with the cam 92, and to prevent rotary displacement it is provided with a pair of arms 99 embracing the connecting bar 96. i

In response tothe rotary motion of cam 92, the sleeve 93 moves longitudinally of the cam, so the sleeve receives a reciprocating motion in a line parallel with the axis of the cam. Motion is transmitted through the connecting bar 96 and the plate 87 to actuate the feed screw 50, as previously pointed out.

The feed screw 50 can also be operated by hand to accurately adjust the material on the carriage. An operating knob 100 (Fig. XVIII) is fixed to the feed screw 50 by means of a screw 101 passing through the knob and screwed into the journal 60 which extends from the feed screw 50. This knob can be turned to operate the feed screw 50, and it may be turned in either direction whenthe pawl 63 is disengaged from the ratchet wheel 59.

The means for transmitting motion from the rotary shaft 91 to the carriage G is shown in Figs. V and-VI. It comprises a gear 102 on the shaft 91 meshing with a gear 103 securedto a rotary crank arm 104, a connecting rod 105 pivoted to the crank arm 104 and also to the lower end of a rigid arm 106, the latter being fixed to the bottom of the carriage C by means of bolts 107, as shown in Fig. VI. .The arm 106 moves with the carriage C and said arm extends througha slot 108 (Fig. I) formed in the base B. When the machine is in operation the shaft 91 is rotated toreciprocate the carriage C and also to drive the cam 92 which forms part of the means for stepping thematerial on the carriage.

I will now describe the means for transmitting power from the electric motor to the shaft 91 and then refer to the automatic stopping device whereby the carriage is stopped in a predetermined position with the meat or other material entirely beyond the knife. Briefly stated, this mechanism includes a hand-controlled clutch through which motion is transmitted from the motor to the shaft 91, and a stopping device associated with said shaft. The clutch can be operatedto start and stop the carriage C Without stopping the rotary knife, and a hand controlled member associated with the clutch and stopping device enables the operator to obtain only one slice or any desired number of slices. This hand-controlled member may be operated at any time after the beginning of a slicing operation,.with the result of stopping the carriage in said starting position after the slicing operation is completed. i

The means for transmitting power from the motor 2 (Figs. V and IX) comprises the vertical shaft 9, a worm 109 at the lower end of said shaft, and a worm gear 110 meshing with said worm. The worm gear 110 (Fig. XIV) is fixed to one end of a. sleeve 111 having a clutch member 112 at the opposite end, and this sleeve is rotatably mounted in a bearing 113. Astshown in Fig. XIV, tubes 114, made of anti-friction metal, areinterposed between the shaft 91 and the sleeve 111. Absorbent material 115 may be located between the tubes 114 to serve as a lubricant retainer, and similarmaterial 115' may be located in the bearing 113. d

When the motor is in operation, the sleeve 111 and its clutch member 112 arerotated, and these elements may be driven independently of the shaft 91 to permit rotation of the knife whilethe carriage C is at rest.

' The means for transmitting motion from the clutch member 112 to the shaft 91 comprises a cylindrical member 116 keyed to the shaft 91, as shown at 117, in Fig. XIV, and a clutch-bar 118 mounted in the member 116. To confine the clutch-bar 118 the cylindrical member 116 is provided with a band 116 around its periphery, as shown in Fig. XIV. The same view shows a spring 119 tending to force the clutch-bar 118 toward the clutch member 112, the latter having radial grooves 120 (Figs. V and XIV) to receive the clutchbar 118. When this clutch-bar occupies the osition shown in Fig. XIV, it lies entirely yond the clutch member 112, so the latter can be rotated without driving the shaft 91, but when the spring 119 is permitted to force the clutch-bar 118 into one of the grooves 120, motion will be transmitted through the cylindrical member 116 and its key 117 to the shaft 91, so as to reciprocate the carriage C.

The means for disengaging the clutch-bar 118 from the clutch member 112 comprises a bell crank lever 121 adapted to extend into an annular groove 122 in the periphery of the c lindrical member 116, as shown by Figs. V,

IV and XV. The clutch-bar 118 is provided with a notch to receive the bell crank lever 121, as shown by Fig. XIV, and when the lever lies in this notch it retains the clutch bar 118 in an inoperative position beyond the clutch .member 112. The free end of bell crank lever 121 is beveled, or sharpened, as shown at 123 in Fig.V. The lever 121 is pivotally supported at 124 (Figs. XIV and XV) so it can be shifted to remove its upper end from the clutch bar 118, thereby permitting the spring 119 (Fig. XIV) to force the clutch-bar 118 into engagement with the clutch member 112. Motion will then be transmitted to the shaft 91. Figs. XIV and XV show the position of the lever 121 when it is holding the clutch-bar 118 to prevent the transmission of power to the shaft 91, and Fig. XVI shows the position of said lever when the clutch-bar 118 is released for the transmission of power to the shaft 91. In stopping the carriage, the lever 121 is shifted from the position shown in Fig. XVI to the position shown in Fig. XV, so as to locate the beveled upper end of lever 121 in the annular groove 122 (Fig. V) and the clutchbar 118 will then engage said beveled end and slide away from the clutch member 112.

The-means for operating the lever 121 (Figs. V, VI, XV and XVI) comprises a bell crank lever 125 fulcrumed at 126, a link 127 connecting the lever 125 to the lever 121, and an operating bar 128 pivoted to the lever 125 and extending through one side of the base of the machine, as shown in Fig. V. This operating bar 128 has a knob 129 at its outer end, and it is provided with a notch 130 to receive the portion of the base shown at 131 in Fig. V. A spring 132 tends to retain the bar 128 in engagement with this portion of the base. When the bar 128 is pushed to the right from the position shown in Fig. V, its notched portion 130 will interlock with the base portion 131, and the spring 132 Wlll tend to maintain this interlocking engagement. When the bar 128 is afterwards released from the base portion 131 the spring 132 will restore the bar to the position shown in Fig. V. It will now be understood that the bar 128 is pushed in one direction by hand and restored by means of the spring 132.

When the bar 128 occupies the position shown in Fig. V, the bell crank lever 121 occupies the position shown in Figs. V, XIV and XV, and the electric motor can then be operated without driving the shaft 91. )Vhen the bar 128 is pushed to the right from the position shown in Fig. V, the bell crank lever 121 is shifted to the position shown in Fig. XVI, where it lies entirely beyond the clutch elements, and power is then transmitted to the shaft 91 so as to reciprocate the carriage. If only one slice is desired the bar 128 is pushed by hand and held for a very brief period to permit engagement of the clutch elements. The bar 128 is then released, whereupon it is restored by the spring 132 with the result of forcing the upper end of the bell crank lever 121 into annular groove 122 (Figs. V and XIV), and upon the completion of one revolution of the shaft'91 the clutchbar 118 will cooperate with said bell crank lever 121 to discontinue the transmission of power to the shaft 91.

This one revolution of the shaft 91 will move the carriage C from its starting position to the other extreme position and back to the starting position. If it is desired to operate the machine continuously, or to perform several slicing operations, the bar 128 is pushed to the right from the position shown in Fig. V to interlock its notched portion 130 with the base portion 131, and this interlocking engagement is maintained by the spring 132. Thereafter, to discontinue the operation of the carriage, the bar 128 is released by hand and restored by the spring 132. The bell crank lever 121 will then cooperate with the clutch-bar 118 to discontinue the transmission of power to the shaft 91.

Although the bell crank lever 121 cooperates with the clutch elements to discontinue the transmission of power when the shaft 91 and carriage C occupy predetermined positions, it is to be understood that this alone will not positively stop the carriage in a predetermined position. The carriage and operating mechanism tend to continue in motion under the uncertain influence of momentum, and in the absence of a positive stopping de- Vice the excess motion would depend partly upon the lubrication of the mechanism and partly upon the weight of the material supported on the carriage.

5 ing the shaft 91. A block 137 (Figs. XIV and XVII) surrounding a reduced portion of the cylindrical member 116 is provided with notches in its outer face to receive rollers 138 which contact with the circular inner face of the stop ring 136. These notches are tapered and springs 139 tend to force the rollers 138 into the reduced ends of the notches. 140 designates a friction member (Figs. XIV to XVII) splined to the member 116, as shown in Fig. XIV. Nuts 141 are screwed onto the member116 to firmly force the friction mem: her 140 into engagement with the notched block 137, thereby frictionally securing said block to the member 116 which rotates with the shaft 91. To understand the feature about to be described it will be important to bear in mind that the notchedblock 137 is not otherwise connected to the shaft 91. It is a friction brake member cooperating with the friction member 140' which rotates with the shaft 91. t A'spring 142 (Figs. XV andXVII) con nects the stop ring 136 to the friction member 140, and thisspring tends to turn the ring 136 on the block a 137. To limit. the motion of ring 136re1ative to the frictionmember 140, the ring is provided with a pin 143 adapted to engage a pin 144 on the friction member 140,

asshown in Fig. XVI. u i

Before describing the manner in which the elements just referred to cooperate with each other to stop the carriage, I will point out the means for actuating the stop lever 133. As

1 shown by Figs. VI and XV, the clutch-open at-ing lever 121 is provided with a slot. 145 to receive a pin 146 extending from the stop lever 133, so when the clutch lever 121.is operated to start the shaft 91 the stop lever 133 will be released from the shoulder 135 onthe ring 136, as shown in Fig. XVI,and when the clutch lever 121 is restored to the position shown in Fig. XV for the purpose of disengaging the clutch elements, the stop lever 133 will contact with the periphery of the ring 136, so as to lie in the path of the shoulder 135 on said ring.

When the carriage is in operation, thelevers 121 and. 133 occupy the positions shown .in Fig. XVI, and the stop ring 136 rotates with the shaft 91. To stop the machine the levers 121 and 133 are shifted to the positions shown in Fig. XV and the lever '121 will cooperate with the clutch to discontinue the transmission of power to the shaft 91, whereupon the shoulder135 on ring 136 will strike the lever 133 to prevent continued rotation of the ring 136. The ring is thus suddenly and positively stopped, but the shaft 91 tends to con- The friction element (Fig. XIV) is keyed to the member 1 16 which in turn is keyed to the shaft, so the friction member 140 is positively secured to the shaft. It frictionally engages one side of the block 137 and tends to turn said block toward the stopping operation. However, at this time the block cannot turn in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. XVII, for the ring 136 is stopped by the lever 133, and the rollers 138 cooperate with the ring 136 to prevent continued rotation of the block 137. i It will therefore be understood that the stop device includes the lever 133 (Fig. XVII) which positively stops the ring 136 in a predeterined position, and a friction brake comprising the friction member 140 and the block 137. The friction brake avoids'an abrupt stop that would cause injury to the mechanism, but it permits only a relatively slight excess motion, so the carriage is always stopped in substantially the same position.

'Attention is now directed to the creepage, or excess motion, which occurs when the friction brake is cooperating with the stop memhere 133 and 136 to stop the carriage. If there were nothing to compensate for this creepage the stop ring 136 would be stopped in a predetermined position with its shoulder 135 engaging the stop lever 133, but each stop operation would increase the displacement of the friction member 140 and shaft 91 relative to the stop ring 136, and the carriage would creep with the shaft. In other words, in the absence of a. suitable compensating device the carriage may at one time stop with its material beyond the knife, but the creepage, or slippage, resulting from successive stopping operations would gradually advance the stopping position of the car ria e.

- T he compensating device herein shown comprises the rollers 138 (FigsuXIV and XVII") located between the stop ring 136 and friction block 137 to form a ratchet device,

and the spring 142 cooperating with the stoppins 143 and 144. A careful study of the conditions seems essential to an understanding of this compensating device, and attention is therefore directed to the following feadevice including rolls 138 prevents the block 137 from moving in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. XVII, but the friction member 140 can move in said direction until it is stopped by the resistance due to its frictional engagement with block 137., .This

slippage, or excess motion, of friction memher 140 separates its stop pin 144 from the stop pin 143 on the then stationary ring 136, as shown by Figs. XV and XVII.

With the foregoing in view it will be understood that excess motion due to creepage is represented by the space between the stop pins 143 and 144. The pin 144 is fixed to the friction member 140, which always bears a fixed position relative to shaft 91 and the carriage C driven thereby. Consequently, if I shift the stop ring 136 to locate its pin 143 in contactwith the pin 144, I will restore the stop ring and its shoulder 135 to the desired normal position relative to the shaft 91 and carriage C. This is accomplished as follows:

During each starting operation, the stop lever 133 is released from the ring 136, as shown in Fig. XVI, and the compensating spring 142 then moves the ring 136 in a direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. XVII until the pin 143 on the ring engages the pin 144 on the friction member 140. This motion of the ring 136 is permitted by the rollers 138, for the resultant contact between the ring and the rollers merely tends to force the latter into the deep portions of the notches in block 137.

Figs. XV and XVII show the positions of the stoppin elements when the shaft 91 is at rest, and I ig. XVI shows the positions of these elements when the shaft is in motion. The extent of the creepage, or slippage, may vary more or less in several stopping operations, but any variation is compensated for by restoring the ring 136 to a predetermined position relative to the shaft 91.

A pawl 165, shown in Figs. V and XV, prevents retrograde movement of the shaft 91. This pawl is pivotally supported at 166 and it has a curved end face 165 engaging the peripheral face of the sleeve which forms part of the member 116. A spring 167 is connected to the pawl 165 to retain its curved end face in contact with said peripheral face.

Attention is directed to Figs. III and IX which illustrate hand-operated driving mechanism adapted to be substituted for the electric motor 2, so as to obtain either a slight degree of motion or to operate the machine when the supply of electric current is temporarily shut off. The hand-operated driver comprises a gear wheel 150 fixed to the shaft 9, a gear wheel 151 normally out of mesh with the gear wheel 150, and a hand crank 152 adapted to transmit power through the gears 150 and 151. The gear 151 is slidable on a rotary tube 153 having slots 154 to receive a pin 155 carried by the gear 151. Springs 156 tend to force the slidable gear 151 away from the gear 150. The crank is notched at its inner end, as shown at 157 in Fig. III, to receive the pin 155, and this crank can be manipulated to force the gear 151 into mesh with the gear 150, and also to rotate these gears.

When the gear 151 occupies its operative position, as shown in Fig. III, it is held by a locking member 158 fixed to a pivot pin 159 and extending between the hub of gear 151 and the housing 1. A closure 160 fixed to the pivot pin 159 to serve as an operating handle for the locking member 158. This closure normally closes the aperture which receives the crank 152 and the locking member 158 normally lies at one side of the hub of gear 151, but after said closure 160 is opened, the crank is inserted to shift the gear, the locking member 158 is then positioned as shown in Fig. III, by an additional movement of said closure and locking member, to retain the gear 151 in its operative position.

The rotary knife 4 is provided with a stationary guard161 (Figs. I, II andIII) extending partly around its cutting edge to form a shield therefor. A second knife guard 162 is carried by the reciprocating carriage C so as to cooperate with the stationary guard when the carriage occupies its predetermined starting position. The movable guard 162 is then located between the stationary guard 161 and the body of the carriage, and said guard 162 lies adjacent to the cutting edge of the knife to have the effect of a continuation of the stationary guard. The movable guard 162 performs its function in the cutting zone of the rotary knife, but said movable guard is displaced with the carriage so it does not in any way interfere with the material during the slicing operations.

The table 163, shown in Figs. I and III, receives sliced material passing from the knife.

I claim:

1. A slicing machine comprising a knife member, a holding member whereby the material to be sliced is presented to the knife member, one of said members being movable from a starting position wherein the material lies entirely beyond said knife member to a slicing position wherein the material contacts with the knife member, and means to prevent stopping of the movable member in said slicing position, said means including a clutch-shifting member driven with said movable member, and a hand-controlled stopping member movable into the path of said clutch-shifting member.

2. A slicing machine comprising a knife member, a holding member whereby the material to be sliced is presented to the knife member, one of said members being movable from a starting position wherein the material lies entirely beyond said knife member to a slicing position wherein the material coni tacts with the knife member, and means to stop the movable member out of the said slicing position, said means including a power-transmission member shiftable to stop the transmission of power to said movable member, an abutment driven by said movable member, and a hand-controlled stop member movable into the path of'said abutment.

3. A slicing machine comprising a] knife member, a holding member wherebythe'material to be sliced is presented to the knife member, one of said members being movable from a starting position wherein the material lies entirely beyond said knife member to a slicing position wherein the material contacts with the knife member, and means to stop the movable member out of the said slicing position, said means including a clutch and a brake, means to disengage saidclutch, means to actuate the brakethereafter independent of said clutch when the said movable mem: ber reaches a 'jredetermined position in its travel, and a hand-operated member to selec tively control the point at which the clutch is disengaged.

4. A slicing machine comprising a knife member, a holding member whereby the ma terial to be sliced is presented to the knife member, one of said members being movable from a starting position wherein the material lies entirely beyond the knife member to a slicing position wherein the material contact-s with the knife member, operating means whereby said movable member is reciprocated to and from said starting position, said operating means including a clutch through which power is transmitted to said movable member, a brake to stop said movable member out of said slicing position, means to disengage said clutch, means to actuatethe brake thereafter independent of said clutch when said movable member reaches a predetermined position in its travel, and a hand-op erated member to selectively control the point at which the clutch is disengaged.

5. A slicing machine comprising a knife member, a holding member whereby theina terial to be sliced is presented to the knife member, one of said members being movable from a starting position wherein the mate rial lies entirely beyond said knife member to a slicing position wherein the material contacts with the knife member, and means to stop the movable member out of said slicing position, said means including a stop member and a brake cooperating therewith to stop the movable member in said starting position.

6. A slicing machine comprising a rotary knife, a carriage whereby the materialto be sliced is delivered to said knife, said carriage being movable from a starting position wherein the material lies entirely beyond said knife to a slicing position wherein the material contacts with said knife, and means whereby the carriage is stopped in said starting position, said means including a rigid hand-operated stop member and a yieldable stopping device cooperating with said stop member.

riage being movable from a starting position.

wherein the material lies entirely beyond said knife to a slicing position wherein the material contacts with said knife, and means whereby the carriage is automatically stopped in said starting position, said means including a hand-operated stop member, a second stop member adapted to engage said handoperated stop member when said hand-operated stop member is actuated, and a yield able device whereby motion is transmitted from the carriage to said second stop member. 9. A slicing machine comprising a rotary knife, a carriage whereby the material to be sliced is delivered to said knife, said carriage being movable from astarting position wherein the material lies entirely beyond said knife to a slicing position wherein the ma terial contacts with said knife, and means whereby the carriage is automatically stopped in said starting position, said means including a hand operated stop member, a second stop member adapted to engage said hand operated stop member when said hand-operated stop member is actuated, a brake through which motion is transmitted from said carriage to said second stop member, and a coinpensating spring whereby said second stop memberis' shifted relative to said brake.

10. A slicing machine comprising a rotary knife, a carriage whereby the material to be sliced is delivered to said knife, said carriage being movable from a starting positi n w ierein the material lies entirely beyond said knife to a slicing position wherein the matcrial contacts with said knife, and means whereby the carriage is automatically stopped in said starting position, said means including a hand-operated stop member, a second stop member adapted to engage said hand-operated stop member when said hand-ope ated stop member is actuated, a friction LKG through which motion is transmitted from said carriage, a ratchet device through which motion is transmitted from said brake to said second stop member, and. a compensating spring whereby said second stop member is shifted to compensate for the stopping motion at said brake.

11. A slicing machine comprising a rotary knife, a reciprocating carriage whereby the lwiwmwi material to be sliced is delivered to said knife, said carriage being movable from a starting position wherein the material lies entirely beyond the knife to a, slicing position wherein the material contacts with the knife, an operating shaft connected to said carriage, a driving clutch. member, a driven clutch member secured to said operatin shaft and adapted to-e'ngage said driving clutch member, a shifter whereby one of said clutch members j shi fted to discontinue the transmission o f power to said shaft and carriage, anda' automatic stopping device whereby sai carriage is stopped in said starting position, said stopping device comprising a hand-operated stop member movable with said shifter, a rotatable stop member adaptcd to engage said hand'operatod stop member when said handperated stop member is actuated. a friction brake member driven by said shaft, a second friction member cooperable with said friction brake member to stop the carriage, a ratchet device through which the stopping thrust is transmitted from said second friction member to said rotatable stoo member, a compensating spring whereby said rotatable stop member is yieldingly connected to said friction brake member. and means for limiting the movement of said rotatable stop member relative to said friction brake member.

12. A slicing machine comprising a knife, a carriage whereby the material to be sliced is delivered to said knife, operating devices whereby said knife and carriage are actuated, and means for predetermining the stopping position of said carriage, said means including a clutch through which power is trans mitted to said carriage and a stopping device cooperating with said clutch to pre-- a carriage whereby the material to be sliced is delivered to said knife, operating devices whereby said knife and carriage are actuated, and means for predetermining the stopping position of said carriage, said means including a hand-controlled stop member adapted to be positioned at any time during the op eration of the carriage, and a second stop member driven by the carriage and adapted to cooperate with said hand-controlled stop member when said second stop member reaches a predetermined position.

15. A slicing machine comprising a knife, a carriage whereby the material to be sliced is delivered to said knife, operating devices whereby said knife and carriage are actuated, and means for predetermining the stopping position of said carriage, said means including a stop member driven by the carriage, and a hand-controlled stop member movable into the path of the first mentioned stop member to stop the carriage when said first mentioned stop member reaches a predetermined position.

16. A slicing machine comprising a knife, a carriage whereby the material to be sliced is delivered to said knife, operating devices whereby said knife and carriage are actuated, and means for controlling the operation of said carriage, said means including a handcontrolled stop member, a second stop member driven by said carriage and adapted to engage said hand-controlled stop member, and a yieldable device whereby motion is transmitted from said carriage to said second stop member.

17. A slicing machine comprising knife, a carriage whereby the material to be sliced is delivered to said knife, operating devices whereby said knife and carriage are actuated, and means for controlling the operation of said carriage, said means including a handcontrolled stop member,a second stop member adapted to engage said hand-controlled stop member, and a yieldable device whereby motion is transmitted from said carriage to said second stop member, said yieldable device comprising a friction brake and a compensating spring whereby said second stop member is shifted to compensate,- for the stopping motion at said brake.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereunto affix my signature.

JOSEPH C. STEINER. 

